Home>>read Wherever You Will Go free online

Wherever You Will Go(74)

By:Stephanie Smith


Maybe leaving with him is a better idea than staying with Rach knowing she will grill me with questions for the rest of the night.

“Where are Grace and Sheree?” I yell to no one in particular.

“Picked up guys,” Harper yells back. I nod awkwardly, not sure the best way to announce I’m leaving with Saxon as though it’s no big deal.

I lean into Rachel’s ear, “I’m not feeling well. Saxon is going to take me home.”

“What’s going on, Brooke?” she asks seriously.

“Nothing.” I hate lying to her; she’s my best friend.

“What is he even doing here?” I’m thrown by her question, realising I actually have no idea what he’s doing here.

“I don’t know, but I told him I was feeling unwell, and he’s offered to drive me home.”

“Where did you go for so long?” She’s firing off the questions, and I’m not equipped to answer them.

“I just feel sick, Rach, and really need to go,” I state desperately.

Rachel jumps up, grabbing her purse. “Well, I’ll come home with you. We can catch a taxi.”

“No, stay.” I stop her. “I’ll call you tomorrow, I promise.” I know I’m going to have to tell her everything soon, but I’m not in a rush to see the disgust in her face at what I’ve done.

I turn to leave before she can fire any more questions at me or I break down and tell her everything. She doesn’t make a move to follow, just stares blankly at me as I turn to gesture goodbye to Harper.

Harper winks at me as if she knows something I don’t, and I stare at her intently, hoping I can read her mind.

Saxon places his hand on my lower back, pulling my gaze away from Harper, and guiding me away from the table while he gives Rachel a nod and Harper a guilty smile. What is that about?

He leads me out of a staff exit and to his parking spot in the back staff lot. He opens the door for me, and I ease myself into the seat.

Smelling the familiar scents of new car and Saxon’s cologne, I relax back and close my eyes with a small smile playing on my lips, happy to be back in his presence. I can’t believe how much I missed him tonight.

Getting into the driver’s seat, Saxon starts the car and reverses out of the parking space. The silence is comfortable and I have the strangest feeling in my belly. It’s not butterflies or nervousness—actually, it’s the opposite. When I’m with Saxon I’m comfortable. I’m relaxed and feel safe. I don’t know how to explain it, but with Saxon comes a sense of peace.

I decide to test the peace by finding out what the hell was going on tonight. “Why were you there tonight? Did Harper tell you where we were going?”

He doesn’t seem perturbed by my question. “I’m sure Harper will tell you on Monday anyway.” He sighs deeply. “After you said you were going out with her to that grungy cesspit I approached her and told her to go my friend’s club. He’s owned it for years, but recently he’s done it up to be a bit more upper class, and I knew you’d be safe there. Where I could make sure you were looked after.”

“What do you mean looked after?”

“Give you the VIP treatment, have you looked after.”

“You mean watched?” I ask him incredulously.

“Brooke,” he warns.

“What the hell, Sax? Did you have people watching me?”

“They’re security, Brooke. They watch everyone.”

“Yeah right,” I scoff. Suddenly the whole night starts piecing together. “Is that why we were the only people sitting in the VIP area upstairs?” Saxon’s silence is the only answer I need. “What made you come?”

The anger is radiating off of me, and I can see him thinking carefully about his answer. “I got a phone call when you left the VIP area,” he says softly.

I don’t know what to say. I shake my head and turn to face out the window. Saxon places his hand on my thigh. “Don’t,” I seethe between my teeth. He quickly pulls his hand away, and we continue on in an uneasy silence.

I can’t believe this. I was with Nate for ten years and he was never so… so… controlling, scheming, protective… crazy-ass nuts. I just don’t get it. What is he thinking? I should pull back, end this thing we have going on before it gets really out of hand.

Closing my eyes, I listen to the soft music playing on the car stereo. I don’t want to end this. The friendship we have built is all I have going for me at the moment. It’s the only reason I can get out of bed some days. I’m angry he thinks he has any right to manipulate my life like that, but I’m also touched by how much he cares, how much I must mean to him.